Doritos Chips Nutrition

by
DEREK HELDERMAN Last Updated: Sep 23, 2015

Derek Helderman

Derek Helderman is a Bariatric Registered Dietitian currently working in a nutrition counseling role. Helderman graduated summa cum laude from Southeast Missouri State and completed his dietetic internship at Vanderbilt University Medical Center in Nashville, Tenn.

A bowl of chicken taco salad with a handful of Doritos in it.Photo Credit martinturzak/iStock/Getty Images

There are dozens of flavors of Doritos tortilla chips, and nutrition facts vary slightly among these flavors. As a significant source of calories in a relatively small serving size and packing little nutritional value in their caloric punch, Doritos should be consumed in moderation. A serving size of Doritos is 1 ounce, which equals about 12 chips.

Calorie Content

A serving of Cool Ranch Doritos contains about 150 calories. This does not include any type of dip or dressing that may be used. Of those 150 calories, about 70 come from fat, 70 come from carbohydrate and 10 come from protein. When you consider the nutritional value of foods of comparable calorie content, Doritos become a less appealing choice. For example, a large banana contains 135 calories, but also provides significant amounts of other nutrients like potassium and fiber.

Fat

Of the 8 grams of fat in a serving of Doritos, 1 gram is saturated. While the relatively low saturated fat content of Doritos is a good thing, the 8 grams of fat per serving represents about 12 percent of the recommended fat intake for the day. Doritos also contain zero grams of trans fat because sunflower, corn or canola oils are used in the cooking process rather than trans fat-containing oils.

Protein and Carbohydrates

A single serving of Doritos has about 18 grams of carbohydrate and 2 grams of protein. Of those 18 grams of carbohydrate, 2 come from fiber. This represents about 6 percent of the recommended intake of both carbohydrate and fiber. If you're following a low-carbohydrate diet, Doritos may not be an appropriate choice.

Sodium

At 180 milligrams of sodium per serving, Doritos contribute about 8 percent of your sodium needs for the entire day in only about 12 chips. If you have high blood pressure or a heart condition, consuming a diet low in sodium is often recommended. If you follow a low-sodium diet, Doritos should be consumed in moderation or avoided altogether.